Events
Juvenile Justice NSW runs a range of events as part of the agency’s Community Engagement Program. The program aims to better educate the public on different aspects of the juvenile justice system.
As part of the program, Juvenile Justice NSW partners with the Sydney Institute of Criminology to run seminars on the juvenile justice system. See below for current and past seminars.
If you would like to organise an event with Juvenile Justice NSW, please submit your event idea to publications@djj.nsw.gov.au for consideration.
Current events
There are currently no events.
Past events
1. They tried to make me go to rehab... young offenders and drug use
Venue: The new law building, University of Sydney
9 May 2012
6pm
The last young people in custody health survey showed that 89% of young offenders had tried illicit drugs, with cannabis (87%) the most common used. As well, 65% had used an illicit drug at least weekly in the year prior to custody, 65% reported committing crime to obtain alcohol or drugs and 20% were intoxicated (on alcohol, drugs or both) at the time of their offence.
This seminar looked at:
- the latest research on cannabis use amongst young offenders
- an innovative intervention program specifically designed for young people with low literacy skills
- the effect of being caught with small amounts of drugs and their subsequent entanglement in the justice system
- alternatives to incarceration
Guest speakers included:
- Melanie Simpson, Senior Research Officer/PhD Candidate, National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre
- Geoff Wilkinson Program Manager, Alcohol and Other Drugs, Juvenile Justice
- Jane Sanders, Principal Solicitor, Shopfront Youth Legal Centre
Listen to recordings from this seminar at http://hdl.handle.net/2123/8350
2. Spend less and reduce crime – hear how this is done in the United States
On 29 November 2011 the 'Spend less and reduct crime' seminar was held at the University of Sydney.
Guest speakers included:
- International guest speaker, Steve Aos, Director of the Washington State Institute for Public Policy. The Institute is responsible for conducting practical, non-partisan research at legislative direction on issues of importance to Washington State.
Steve discussed the Institute’s criminal justice research findings, and how they believe that the key to success is to think more generally about crime.
3. Youth Justice Conferencing
On 17 October 2011, Juvenile Justice and the Sydney Institute of Criminology presented a seminar on Youth Justice Conferencing. The seminar explored the current state of evidence and practice in restorative justice and Youth Justice Conferencing, and brought together a range of perspectives on the conferencing process.
Guest speakers included:
- Dr Kelly Richards, Senior Research Analyst, Australian Institute of Criminology
- John Gralton, A/Assistant Commissioner, NSW Police
- Bryan Boulton, Youth Justice Conferencing Convenor, based in Lismore
Click here to listen to the audio. http://sydney.edu.au/law/video/
4. Capacity for crime: adolescent brain development, mental health and youth crime
On 2 May 2011, Juvenile Justice and the Sydney Institute of Criminology presented the ‘Capacity for crime: adolescent brain development, mental health and youth crime’ seminar at the University of Sydney Law School. The seminar explored current thinking in the science of adolescent brain development and reviewed recent research into the mental health of young people within the juvenile justice NSW system.
Guest speakers included:
- Professor Ian Hickie, Executive Director for the Brain & Mind Institute
- Natalie Mamone, Chief Psychologist, Juvenile Justice
- Professor David Fergusson, Principal Investigator and Executive Director of the Christchurch Health and Development
International guest Professor David Ferguson spoke of the issues relating to the prevention and treatment of childhood conduct problems.
Click here to listen to the audio (mp3 16.8mb)
View the presentations:
Ian Hickie (to be provided soon)
Natalie Mamone (PowerPoint 1.04mb)
David Fergusson (PowerPoint 555kb)
5. Aboriginal Young People and Crime
On 7 February 2011, Juvenile Justice and the Sydney Institute of Criminology presented the Aboriginal Young People and Crime seminar. The guest speakers discussed the reasons for continued over-representation of Aboriginal young people in the criminal justice system, and highlighted promising programs and strategies to help reduce the numbers in custody.
Speakers included:
- Edwina Crawford, Manager, Aboriginal Strategic Coordination Unit, Department of Human Services NSW - Juvenile Justice
- Kate Sullivan, Research Scholar at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, Australian National University
- Anthony Paulson, Centre Manager, Tirkandi Inaburra
- Bob Debus, Former Minister for Home Affairs in the Australian Government and a former NSW Attorney General
Click here to access the audio files.
View the presentations:
Bob Debus 
(36kb)
Edwina Crawford (103kb)
Anthony Paulson (PowerPoint 863kb)
6. Juvenile Offending - What Are the Facts?
On 11 November 2010, Juvenile Justice and the Sydney Institute of Criminology presented the 'Juvenile offending - What are the Facts?'
Speakers included:
Peter Muir, Chair, AJJA
Dr Eric Heller, Manager of Research, Juvenile Justice NSW
Jessie Holmes, Senior Project Officer, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research
Rachel Aalders, Senior Project Manager, Child and Youth Welfare Unit, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Click here to listen to the audio. (2.71mb)
View the presentations:
Dr Heller's presentation, click here (7.39mb)
Ms Holme's presentation, click here (2.71mb)
Ms Aalders' presentation, click here (582kb)
Presentations are in PowerPoint format.